Actor Rebel Wilson didn’t let the events of 2020 affect her “year of health”. In fact, the 40-year-old used the extra time COVID provided to work on her wellbeing and fitness goals.
Wilson, who reportedly lost 20kgs in 2020, has continued working on her fitness goals with her personal trainer Jono Castano.
She chose to document the journey for her fans. In August 2021, the actress posted to Instagram and said she attributed her former figure to mental health issues, and emotional binge eating. She said in a 2021 Instagram live that she was “at my most unhealthiest — being overweight and indulging way too much with junk food. Using food to numb my emotions.” She decided to address this when she was told by a doctor that her weight could affect her fertility.
While we don’t equate weight loss with finding happiness, Wilson has transformed her mind, body and soul with the help of the Mayr Method which was created by an Austrian physician, Dr Franz Xaver Mayr, nearly 100 years ago.
So, what is this method that has Wilson feeling so darn great about herself?
What is the Mayr Method?
According to People (who first reported the diet), the method is based on the “Mayr Cure”. Dr Mayr “believed that most people are poisoning their digestive systems with the foods they eat and how they eat them”. Dr Mayr believed that everything is connected to the gut and gut health, so he devised a gut-centric meal plan.
While it certainly works, it is quite a restrictive regime and also has participants spending time at a VivaMayr medical centre in either London or Austria. It helps guests through a signature detox that involves certain spa treatments, mental health sessions (including mindfulness), and a thorough diet and fitness regime.
The cost of the in-house program is $2,200 USD ($3,121 AUD), but if you’re not a high-paid actor and wanting to give it a go, then you can purchase The VivaMayr Diet book online instead.
People reported that Wilson visited Austria’s luxury medical detox and wellness centre last year, got “amazing results” and has kept it up ever since.
The centre helps revamp their client’s diet and aims to eliminate snacking, dairy and gluten intake. It also shows them how to chew food correctly — 40 chews to be exact — with the fundamental principle that you can improve health through digestion.
The outlet also reports that meals are prepared with high “alkaline content” like vegetables, fish and sheep’s milk yoghurt.
Other parts of the method include meals being scheduled four hours apart, no phones while you eat, no water intake during meals, refrain from eating raw foods at night after 4.00pm and if you need to skip a meal, skip dinner because breakfast is essential.
Related: This Program is Proof That You Can Workout and Practice Mindfulness at the Same Time
While the Mayr Method obviously works for Wilson, everybody is different and it’s important to ensure that any new diet is undertaken with the guidance of a medical professional.
Additionally, while it may seem like the perfect remedy, the book does promote some questionable outcomes and promises: “14 days to a flatter stomach, glowing skin, a springy step, and a fabulous beach-babe body”. While the Mayr Method, and Wilson herself, encourage healthy practices, physicians have seen a rise in conditions like orthorexia post-COVID, attributed to the rise of wellness culture, and preoccupation with weight loss during COVID.
How The Mayr Diet Has Evolved:
In an interview with NBC Today, Maximilian Schubert, the medical director for VivaMayr said that the diet, while 100 years old, has evolved over time.
“The main idea behind this is if people have a healthy gut system and healthy digestive system, then they are going to have a holistic approach to health,” he said, before adding: “Once we have treated your condition, proper nutrition combined with exercise and improved mental awareness become the building blocks of your new life.”
Wilson also advocates a self-love based approach to health. On July 3, 2022, the star posted to Instagram, saying she’d gained 3kg while on vacation. “I’ve lost all self-control. But you know what? I can get up tomorrow and go to the gym and hydrate, and eat healthily and love myself,” she told fans. The star encouraged her followers to not be so hard on themselves: “YOU are more than just your weight, your weight doesn’t define you,” she wrote.